Witness Assistance Service

The Witness Assistance Service (WAS) supports victims and witnesses of serious crime through the court process. The service is part of the Victims Strategy and Services unit of the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) Legal Practice and is located on the ground floor of the OPP building at 565 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

WAS social workers

WAS has a number of experienced social workers who can:

give you information about the prosecution process

give you information about the progress of a matter

support you through pre-court conferences with solicitors and prosecutors

Child Witness Service

The Child Witness Service is a specialist service for children and young people who are witnesses in criminal proceedings.

The Child Witness Service is staffed by social workers and psychologists who provide information and support to children and their families during the court process.They work closely with the police informant and OPP solicitors and can make referrals to specialist support services if required.

Victims of Crime Helpline

The Victorian Government’s Victims of Crime Helpline offers information, advice and support for you and your family. Contacting the helpline is the first step to accessing free services to help you manage the impact of the crime.